30 for 30 November Blog Challenge

I know we haven't been posting much over here for a long time, but I want to get back into a regular posting routine. Especially with the holidays coming up, Sean and I will be busy with family doing lots of fun things, and I think it would be great to have a kind of journal of it all to reflect on in the future. I hope that this daily posting challenge will give us a boost to continue with more regular blogging throughout the year.

A local blog I read, yepindeed, did a blog challenge for October, and author Graylin decided to make up her own challenge for November: 30 for 30.This challenge is part of a bigger event for the month of November, NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) inspired by NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Sean's sister Allie participates in NaNoWriMo every year, and she is such an inspiration! I've never thought that I could write an entire novel, but posting every day for 30 days (with a little help) sounds like something I can do. So I hope you're all ready for a whirlwind month of posting as I accept this challenge (maybe Sean will help a little bit too!)

First up for today, the topic is November Goals:

-Obviously this blog challenge: 
It's at the top of the list and a priority for the month.  Any encouragement you can offer along the way will be greatly appreciated!

-Start (maybe finish?) Christmas shopping before the end of the month:
Last year I had the flu about two weeks before Christmas, and shopping on December 23 is just not fun for anyone. I'd like to avoid that for this year.

-Book Club re-boot:
I started a book club earlier this year with some ladies, let's just call them all my Louisville sisters, and we got off track over the summer because *someone* went to Europe, and then we never got back on the train because *someone else* got married! I know this is the busiest time of the year, but let's be honest, another excuse to get together for food, champagne and excellent conversation seems like a good idea to me!

-Bake/cook more:
This is kind of a cheat item on the list because I already end up baking more around the Holidays. (It's like adding that thing to the list just so you can cross it off!)

What does everyone think of this challenge? What are your November goals?

Fall Bucket List

Lovely colors in Cherokee Park

This time of year is simply my favorite! Now the weather is finally cooling down a bit, and the leaves are starting to turn. Sean and I had a beautiful fall weekend with friends here in Louisville, taking in the scenery and spending quality time with friends. I thought I'd make a list of all the things we would like to do this season. Here are just a few (and some we've already checked off!):

1. Wear boots and scarves and sweaters!
2. Drink some delicious fall beers (including Sean's second home brew... an Oktoberfest-style ale!)
3. Apple picking and pumpkin carving (We already went to Huber's for some apple picking earlier this month.)

4. Hiking and/or camping
5. Halloween Parties!
6. Walk down Hillcrest Avenue. This is a street just a few blocks away from us in our neighborhood, and the residents go NUTS with Halloween decorations. It's always fun to pick a night close to Halloween and check it out.
7. Go for a scenic drive to check out some fall foliage, an activity that even Senator Kevin Keeley from The Birdcage would enjoy... if you don't know what I'm talking about, then we probably shouldn't be friends anymore, but here's a quick clip you can watch to get with the program. ;)

Sean and I on a walk in the park over the weekend

Hanging out around the fire.

Review: Eggs Over Frankfort

Hey Everyone! I know it's been QUITE a while since Sean and I have updated this blog, but my brother-in-law Andy and I were chatting about it the other day, and he inspired me to write a post.

So, I thought I'd start off simple with a little review of a new restaurant in our neighborhood, Eggs Over Frankfort. I normally work on Saturdays, but a couple weeks ago over Labor Day weekend, I was off and Sean and I took the opportunity to have a little brunch date. It was beautiful day outside, so we picked the corner seat right in the window.

 

Just some background information about this restaurant: it was formerly Fat Jimmy's, a pizza place that was beloved in the Campbell/McPhillips household.  It closed without warning last April, and we were devastated. They served my favorite pizza in the world there called, The Tito, which was a hot sauce and ranch base topped with chicken, bacon and banana peppers. We were a bit apprehensive to try out the new place since our loyalties are still so strongly tied to the now closed Fat Jimmy's (a bit silly I know).

Anyway, back to Eggs Over Frankfort: The decor is simple and bright with fresh flowers on the tables and mismatched salt and pepper shakers and coffee mugs. It's a perfect atmosphere for a lazy Saturday morning brunch, which was just what we were looking for that morning.

We ordered our coffee, and I was pleasantly surprised by my coffee cup. It was a Prince William and Kate Middleton souvenir mug! Maybe I'd like this place after all! This was probably my favorite thing about our visit to Eggs Over Frankfort.

 

The menu had a good selection of combination plates, omelets, and sweeter things. They also offer sandwiches and soups if you visit later in the afternoon. Sean ordered the 'Country Benedict' which was sunny side up eggs over two biscuits with a choice of bacon or sausage and topped with gravy. (He chose one biscuit with sausage and one with bacon at the suggestion by our server!) I was leaning towards that also, but thought I'd get something different since it was our first time there.

 

I really wanted the blueberry waffles, but they brought me blueberry pancakes instead. I didn't want to make a fuss so I just stuck with the pancakes. I like pancakes, and they were pretty good, but it was just bit disappointing. (Also, I could have very well said the wrong thing when I ordered, but it still kind of put a damper on the experience.)

But as any good wife is sure to do from time to time, I had a few bites of Sean's food. ;) And it was delicious. I'm usually hesitant to order biscuits and gravy from any restaurant just because my dad's famous recipe is just the best and cannot be beat. But this gravy was delicious (still not as good as yours Dad if you're reading this).

My cute breakfast date.

Overall, I have to say the food was just average. Our server was very friendly and helpful, the new renovations to the space look bright and cheery, and we might try it another time in the future. I guess my overall opinion of this new spot is pretty neutral: it wasn't bad but it wasn't amazing either. This may make for a pretty boring restaurant review, but for me personally I guess it's just that Eggs Over Frankfort will never measure up to our old favorite, Fat Jimmy's. 

Apple Pickin'

 

Last weekend, we took a drive to Huber's Farm in Indiana to go apple picking. It was a beautiful day to be outside, and we came home with a bounty of apples, some squash and an oddly tall pumpkin for carving. Here are some photos from the day: 

 

Sean...always being a goof.

Tilt-shift!

Maggie and Travis

Waiting for the wagon to pick us up

Enjoying sangria amidst the masses at the end of the day.

Hope you are all enjoying this wonderful fall season! It's my favorite time of the year!

Summer on North Hite Avenue =

This adorable cat. She bops around between our house and a few others on our street. I think one of our neighbors feeds her, but she doesn't seem to have a permanent home. We call her Garfield (we thought she was a he at first.) She is so short, stout and very sweet, and always eager to play and be petted. :)

We see her in various lounging spots around the neighborhood: under the stairs at our house (above), stretched out in the sun on the back drive of our neighbor's house, or just waiting on the front stoop of another house for curious sidewalk strollers to stop and give a belly rub.

Whether we are leaving the house or arriving home for the night, we find at our feet this sweet little lady meowing at us, and ready to be petted. If you don't stop to pet her, she will follow us the length of our yard and run ahead of us and fall inevitably into this position:

"Pet me!"

You know Sean and I are big softies and cannot resist (and she does too!). So we end up spending a few minutes almost every day playing with Garfield in the yard. Even though we don't have a pet of our own (yet), we feel like Garfield is a good fill-in for now!

Destination: Chicago!

Aileen and I hadn't taken any big trips (aside from weddings and family visits) since we met my friend Ania in New York City in September of 2011, which is unacceptable for a pair of globe-trotters like ourselves! So, we decided to plan a trip to Chicago, as it's fairly close to Louisville by car and I had never been there.

Lurie Garden (Plus Aileen)

On Independence Day, Aileen and I loaded up LaFawnda (our Honda Fit) and set out on our journey. After about five hours (and $6.60 in road tolls) we arrived at our hotel. We stayed at the Best Western Plus in the River North area of town, which is just north of the Loop and the Chicago River. It was within two miles of most of the activities and attractions we had planned, so it was extremely convenient. It also had free parking, which is very rare in Chicago! Once we were all settled into our temporary home-base, we struck off into the city. We walked south through the Loop and ended up on Michigan Avenue right next to Millennium Park. We grabbed a quick lunch and then took our picture at the Bean sculpture at the park. Next, we visited the Art Institute of Chicago. The museum is impressive and includes a large amount of Greek and Roman ceramics and one of the largest collections of Impressionist paintings in the world. They had a very interesting special exhibit there called 'Impressionism, Fashion, and Modernity' which explored the use of fashion in Impressionist works. After the museum, we enjoyed a walk through the Lurie Garden, got a snack in Millennium Park and then walked to the mouth of the Chicago River and watched the fireworks!

Us in The Bean

The next morning, we woke up early (not on purpose, we were still on our non-vacation sleep schedule, plus we were in a different time zone) and began the day with a delicious breakfast at Hendrickx Belgian Bread Crafters. Aileen had a croissant filled with chocolate and almond while I chose chocolate and brandy. They were the best croissants I had ever tasted: extra flaky and only slightly sweet! Next, we set off for Oak Street Beach. It is a long beach that runs parallel to Lakeshore Drive along Lake Michigan in the northern part of the city center. We walked along the path and enjoyed the lovely weather. To finish off our morning, we rode the elevator to the observation floor of the Hancock Tower and enjoyed the magnificent views of Chicago from one-thousand feet up! Afterwards, we walked along Navy Pier and had a beer and our first Chicago style hot dogs (beef dog on poppy-seed bun, yellow mustard, onions, sweet relish, dill spear, cucumber slices, tomatoes, hot peppers, celery salt, and absolutely no ketchup). To finish off the afternoon, we took a cruise on the Chicago River that highlighted the city's famous works of architecture. The city is filled with some of the best examples of the Art Deco style and also has many modern and unique buildings. By the end of the cruise, we were starting to drag, so we opted for a relaxing dinner at an Irish pub near our hotel.

View from Hancock Observatory

From the top of the Ferris Wheel on Navy Pier

Trump Tower from the Chicago River

The Chicago River

FIRE BOATS!

Dr. Evil's Yacht

Unintentionally, we woke up early again the next morning: "Early to bed, early to rise..." you know how it goes. We had a delicious egg-centric breakfast at a place called Yolk a few blocks from our hotel then set off again to explore. We walked to Lincoln Park, by way of Oak Street Beach, and enjoyed a few hours at the free zoo there, followed by some more Chicago style dogs. We then rented some bikes from Chicago's new Divvy bike program. We rode south, back through Oak Street Beach and then checked out some of the stores along the Magnificent Mile. After freshening up at our hotel and stopping by the grocery store, we headed to Millennium Park next to the Loop in the heart of the city. They have a free concert series there throughout the summer and we enjoyed a picnic dinner, complete with a classy box of wine, as the sun set. It was one of the highlights of the trip for sure! Afterwards, we saw Buckingham Fountain, which is lit up with colored lights and "performs" along to music in the evenings.

Oak Street Beach (Plus Sean)

Picnic! Keepin' it classy with boxed wine and Best Western cups...

Pritzker Pavilion (day)

Pritzker Pavilion (night)

We started the next day with some fancy doughnuts from Firecakes, some of the best either of us has ever had! We hopped onto the Divvy bikes again and rode through Grant Park to the Field Museum. We explored the exhibits on early Americans, ancient Egypt, and prehistory, including dinosaurs! We saw Sue (the world's most complete T-rex skeleton) and Lucy (one of the most famous examples of an Australopithecus), both which belong to the permanent collection. We were kicked out of the museum, as it was closing, and walked back to our hotel to refresh. We enjoyed some authentic Chicago deep-dish pizza from Lou Malnati near the hotel to round out the day.

Sean with Sue (Watch Out!)

Aileen with Brawling Elephants

Aileen with a bust of Pharaoh Michael Jackson

I never thought Aileen's feet could seem more skinny

Chicago <3 Stanley Cup

We woke up the next day to a steady drizzle. It was as if the city knew our holiday was over. We may or may not have visited Firecakes for a second time before packing up and heading out of town. We hadn't even gotten out of the city when the sky opened up and the heavens were unleashed. We drove home through the deluge, savoring the sunny times we had enjoyed together in Chicago.

A Litte Taste of Cuba: Ropa Vieja

I tried out a new recipe for you today! 

Aileen and I have been eating at a tasty Cuban restaurant in Louisville, Havana Rumba, since we both moved here for college. It is a wonderful place and everything on the menu is superb (especially their red sangria). Cuban food makes me a happy man.

One of their most popular entrees is a traditional dish called Ropa Vieja, which is translated as "old clothes." I know, that doesn't sound very appetizing at all. However, it is an accurate visual description: it sort of resembles a colorful pile of woven fibers in muddy water. Please, try to stop salivating. 

The dish is really shredded beef in a sauce of tomatoes, onion, garlic, bell peppers, and spices. It has the consistency of a very thick stew or chili. It is such a wonderful creation: the sauce simmers for an hour, making the beef fall apart into the sauce. The flavors of all of the ingredients combine into each other, with each bite becoming a taste of beefy-tomato-y heaven. So, I embarked upon a journey to make this dish in my kitchen...

It really wasn't very hard to prepare, so you should go make it for your loved ones... 

They will be impressed.

Ropa Vieja: 

(Serves 2)

1lb flank steak, cut into strips

3 tbsp olive oil

3 cloves of garlic, diced

1 onion, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 small bay leaf

1 tsp dried oregano

1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped

dash of white wine or sherry

1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce

1/2 cup water 

Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet on medium heat, browning the meat on all sides. Remove it from the skillet, and add the remaining oil to skillet. Stir in the garlic, onion, and green pepper and cook until the onion is translucent. Stir in the browned meat, tomato sauce, water, wine, and spices. Simmer until the meat is tender and shreds easily, about 1 hour. Serve atop white rice. 

Enjoy. Every. Bite.